Indium(III) chloride
- Indium chloride
- Indium trichloride
White solid
Fixed
3.46 g · cm -3
586 ° C
- Soluble in water ( 661 g · l-1 at 22 ° C)
- Soluble in ethanol (532 g · l-1 at 22 ° C)
Risk
0.1 mg · m-3
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Indium trichloride ( InCl3 ) is a chemical compound of indium and chlorine.
Representation and extraction
Anhydrous indium is obtained from the elements by the combustion of indium in a chlorine gas atmosphere, or by reacting a mixture of indium (III ) oxide and carbon in the chlorine gas stream.
The compound can also be prepared by dissolving indium in hydrochloric acid. From the aqueous solution crystallizes the tetrahydrate.
Also possible is the preparation by reaction of indium (III ) oxide with thionyl chloride at 300 ° C.
Properties
Indium ( III ) chloride is white, hygroscopic crystals, which are readily sublimed. The melting point is given as 586 ° C, the sublimation point of 418 ° C. The vapor pressure function is given by August according to ln ( P) = -A / T B (P in Torr, T in K) with A = 8086 ± 168 and B = 12.654 in the temperature range from 489 K to 564 K. The heat of sublimation is 154 kJ · mol -1. In the gas phase, it is ( as all indium halides ) present as dimeric molecule. Anhydrous indium trichloride reacts violently with water and is thereby split protolytisch. The compound forms of hydrochloric acid medium double salts with the Hexachlorido [ InCl6 ] 3 - or Aquopentachlorido complex [ InCl5 (H2O )] 2 -. It has a monoclinic crystal structure, isotypic to that of aluminum (III ) chloride with the space group C2 / m (a = 64.1 pm, b = 111.0 pm, c = 63.1 pm, ß = 109 ° 48 ' ). From the aqueous solutions, which is also made of indium and hydrochloric acid are readily available, for example, crystallize upon concentration of hydrates, such as the tetrahydrate from.
Use
The compound is used as a catalyst in alcohol and carbonyl chemistry, as well as in nuclear medicine and in the production of indium ( for CIGS solar cells).